Russell E. Ettinger

Russell E. Ettinger, MD serves as Service Chief of Craniofacial Surgery at Harborview Medical Center and Medical Director of the Burn & Plastic Surgery Clinic. He holds an academic appointment as Assistant Professor of Surgery within the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine, with clinical affiliations at Seattle Children's Hospital. Dr. Ettinger founded the adolescent and adult Plastic Surgery Gender Program, establishing specialized care pathways for transgender and gender diverse patients.

His educational background includes a Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship at the University of Washington (2019), medical training from the University of Washington School of Medicine (2011), and residency completion in the University of Michigan's Integrated Plastic Surgery Program. He maintains board certification in Plastic Surgery through the American Board of Plastic Surgery (2020).

Dr. Ettinger's clinical expertise spans congenital and acquired craniomaxillofacial conditions across all age groups, including cleft lip/palate repair, dentofacial orthognathic surgery, acute facial trauma management, complex burn reconstruction, and comprehensive gender affirmation procedures (facial feminization surgery and chest reconstruction). His research program investigates pharmacologic enhancement of bone graft integration and evidence-based outcomes in craniofacial surgery, directly translating laboratory insights to clinical practice improvement.

He actively contributes to surgical education as a mentor for medical students and plastic surgery residents, emphasizing compassionate, individualized patient care. Dr. Ettinger leads multidisciplinary teams at Harborview Medical Center's Craniofacial Service and Burn Clinic, where he has developed specialized protocols for gender-affirming care coordination and complex facial reconstruction.